In recognition of the enormous opportunities available to the Central Queensland region, the boards of Capricorn Tourism and Development Organisation Inc. (CTDO) and Rockhampton Regional Development Ltd (RRDL) have agreed to merge the two organisations into one new dynamic Tourism and Economic Development business which will be launched as Enterprise CQ (working name).

Members of both organisations will be presented with the recommendation from both boards, who over the past week have voted unanimously to merge.

A Special General Meeting will be called within days by Capricorn Tourism CEO/Secretary Mary Carroll to be held within the next month.

Following the successful mergers last year of our Tourism organisations to consolidate our resources and better utilise our marketing funds, we now have an incredible opportunity to realise even greater potential for our region, by ensuring that infrastructure opportunities are not lost to other destinations within Queensland.

Capricorn Tourism is very proud of the achievements of Rubyvale Gem Gallery and Capricorn Caves, who represented the Capricorn Region at the Qantas Australian Tourism Awards 2010 held on 26 February 2010.

These operators are some of only a few operators to represent the region at a national level, so we would like to acknowledge this outstanding achievement and the hard work that would have gone into submitting an entry of such high calibre.

Congratulations!

Monitoring these indicators can lead to opportunities for increased profits and growth in a climate where consumer’s environmental-conscience plays an ever growing role in decision making.

Industry operators will be contacted by TQ via Colmar Brunton to complete a five minute to 10 minute survey and all responses remain anonymous. Questions only require ‘off the cuff’ answers so you are not required to trawl through your records to find figures.

Results will be made available on www.tq.com.au early next financial year. The results will help you gauge how you are placed against other operators in the state on the sustainability scale. There are no right or wrong answers, the aim of the research is to set a benchmark. The survey will start on Monday 22 March.

Contact Simone Bennett on +61 7 3535 5016 for further information.

With only 4 months until the inaugural Camco MotorMania CQ event, sites are selling fast for the region’s largest motor trade fair, which will be held from 24-25 July a the Rockhampton Showgrounds as part of the weekend’s program of events, displays and demos. With upward of 8,000 visitors expected at what will be the region’s largest ever motoring event, potential exhibitors are encouraged to book soon before they miss out.

Modelled on the hugely-successful Beef Australia events, the Camco MotorMania CQ Trade Fair will blend business with pleasure, with attractions and sites intermingled to ensure maximum exposure for exhibitors and maximum fun for visitors.

Indoor and outdoor sites of all sizes are being offered at very affordable rates, suitable for everyone from small specialist businesses to national corporations.

“Central Queenslanders have got motor oil in their veins – there isn’t anyone I talk to who doesn’t know someone who is a car, truck or motorcycle nut” said Event Manager, Ellie Traynor.

“The Trade Fair is an unbeatable opportunity for the region’s businesses to get their product in front of so many interested customers,” said Ms Traynor.

“We’re going to see a real variety of people at the event – amateur and professional motorsport competitors, regional and national motoring club members, motoring enthusiasts, specialist vehicle owners and industry representatives as well as the general public.”

“Spaces are already being snapped up and we’re delighted to have major national companies like Shannons Insurance exhibiting alongside local businesses, which just goes to show how much potential this event has.”

MotorMania CQ Trade Fair Prospectuses and Application Forms can be downloaded from the Camco MotorMania CQ website, www.motormaniacq.com.au or request one by calling Ellie Traynor, Event Manager on 07 4922 2855. Click to read the full media release.

Aradon Pty Ltd, trading as Mount Hay Gemstone Tourist Park and Aradon WA, participated in the world’s largest gem and mineral show at Tucson, Arizona, USA.  This show, held from 30 January to 14 February 2010, incorporated around 50 individual shows spread across the city in hotels and open space venues.

Although economic conditions are depressed, the show was a success for Aradon, largely because of the unusual and different types of stones they presented.  Interest in Australian semi-precious stones is high, due to the large variety of colours and patterns.

Most of the sales were of polished pieces and slices, particularly the spherulitic rhyolite from Mount Hay, or Rainforest Jasper as it is known in the United States.  This is truly a unique stone and the only known deposit of it is at Mount Hay, 41 kilometres west of Rockhampton.

Aradon shipped approximately 12 tonnes of material from Perth, including several tonnes of rough stone, and stone from the east coast.  The highlight of the show was the sale of the “world’s largest tiger-eye slab”, a 2.5 billion year old polished slice from Western Australia, measuring 2.4 metres by 0.8 metres.

Mount Hay Gemstone Tourist Park is owned and operated by the Kayes family.  It operates every day of the year except Christmas Day and Boxing Day from 8.30am to 4.30pm.  They offer fossicking, guided tours, a shop, camping and powered sites.

For more information, ring 0749347183, email aradon@iinet.net.au or go to the website at www.aradon.com.au.

The launch of the inquiry follows recent findings indicating that access to finance was the number one concern for small and medium-sized businesses as the economy emerges from the global financial downturn.

The Senate inquiry will, in particular, investigate:

• The costs, terms and conditions of finance and changes to lending policies and practices affecting small businesses;
• The importance of reasonable access to funding to support small business expansion and the sector’s contribution to employment growth and economic recovery;
• The state of competition in small business lending and the impact of the Government’s banking guarantees;
• Opportunities and obstacles to other forms of financing, for example, equity to support small business ’start ups’, liquidity, growth and expansion;
• Policies, practices and strategies to enhance access to small business finance that exist in other countries; and
• Any other related matters.

In preparing a submission to the Senate on this issue, QTIC seeks feedback from its small business members on the discussion points listed above as well as information on the specific challenges you may have faced when attempting to obtain credit.

Please provide your feedback to David Liddell, QTIC’s Policy Officer, at david.liddell@qtic.com.au by COB on Wednesday, 24 March.

QTIC will be using this opportunity to urge government to consider the role of small business in driving economic recovery and jobs growth and will be advocating for the small business sector to be provided with timely access to finance on reasonable terms.

The Rockhampton Centre of the Department of Employment, Economic Development and Innovation will be holding Tendering for Government Business Workshop on 20 April 2010 from 8:45am-1:00pm.

Tendering for Government Business is a workshop delivered by the Queensland Government for existing and potential suppliers to Government departments and agencies.

Attendees will learn the principles of Queensland Government procurement policies and processes, how to complete complex offer/tender documents used by departments and agencies and learn how to interpret and respond to the standard terms and conditions contained in complex Government offer and tender documents.

Click for more details on the workshop.

Be a good egg this Easter and ditch the bunny. This year embrace the mouse and give a guilt free unique gift from www.sublimegifts.com.au where you can burn the calories instead of eating them!

For a great Guilt Free, Healthy, fun alternative, choose www.sublimegifts.com.au, your local gift experience site, full of sugar free adventures starting from $20.00, guaranteed to be remembered long after the celebration for all the RIGHT reasons!

Click to view the full range of Easter specials.

“The Jackson Report commissioned by the Australian Federal Government, identified that around 47% of all tourism expenditure occurs in the regions.  Further to this, research conducted by the Government’s Department of Resources, Energy & Tourism found that tourism expenditure in regional communities in 2008/2009 totalled more than $33 billion and that tourism employs more workers than agriculture, forestry and fishing combined.  Just imagine the economic and social impact if this tap was turned off” she said.

“Now, more than ever, tourism operators, destination managers and local, state and federal government decision makers need to be better informed to ensure that regional Australia doesn’t lose market share to cheap overseas destinations” said Ms Hutchison.

Each year the ARTN, in association with its partners, initiates a gathering of industry professionals and policy makers to discuss the latest research and industry trends and their impact and application on the future of regional tourism.  The Australian Regional Tourism Convention, now in its tenth year, is the only opportunity for grass roots, regional practitioners to discuss and debate with policy makers.  This year’s Convention will be held from the 16^th to 20^th August in the Yarra Valley and Dandenongs region of Victoria.  The theme of the Convention is ‘Australia’s Regions – Ready, Resilient and Robust’ and will attract delegates from all states and territories and all sectors of the industry.

The Convention will address key industry challenges such as how to develop destinations to meet visitor expectations and explore how destinations can learn from Victoria’s recovery from the Black Saturday bushfires of 2009.  Practical case studies exemplifying practical solutions will sit alongside presentations by tourism research and forecasting experts.

The Yarra Valley and Dandenongs region of Victoria presents some very worthy examples of industry best practise in a range of fields.

Registrations for the Convention opened this week to an eager industry keen to learn how to develop their destination successfully and sustainably.  Registration information can be found online at www.regionaltourism.com.au or by phoning 02 6620 .3785.

“The Queensland Greats awards honour individuals and institutions whose long term or lifetime achievements have played a significant role in the history and development of Queensland,” Ms Bligh said.

“This is a very prestigious award given to those Queenslanders who are an inspiration to us all.

“This year, a very special year, we will celebrate 10 years of the Queensland Greats awards.

“Since 2001, 45 Queenslanders and four Queensland institutions have been named Queensland Greats, such as Angel Flight Founder Bill Bristow AM (2009), Indigenous education activist Pearl Duncan (2008), Surf Lifesaving Queensland (2007), scientist Professor Ian Frazer (2006), performing arts contributor Dr Tony Gould AM (2005), TV personality Hugh Cornish (2004), writer David Malouf AO (2003), rugby league coach Wayne Bennett OAM (2002) and health and community leader Sister Angela Mary Doyle (2001).

“Every Queensland Great recipient has been recognised with a commemorative plaque that is proudly displayed at Roma Street Parkland.

“Queensland Greats have traditionally come from a wide variety of fields and pursuits so I encourage all Queenslanders to nominate a friend, colleague, family member, community leader, or institution that they believe has made a significant contribution to Queensland.”

The 2010 Queensland Greats will be announced by the Premier during Queensland Week, 29 May – 6 June 2010.

Nomination forms are available online at www.queenslandweek.qld.gov.au or by calling 07 3405 5215.

Entries close at 5pm on Friday 26 March 2010.